Once again, Shea-Porter raises more than GOP challengers

Democratic U.S. Rep. Carol Shea-Porter is not considered a fundraising god. She vocally detests just about everything to do with raising campaign money. In her first run for Congress, she raised the least amount for anyone who won a Congressional seat in the country.

All of this begs the question about what is going on with her two main Republican challengers in the first Congressional District this year. With just four months until Election Day, Shea-Porter has raised more money than they have every quarter.

Tuesday night, Shea-Porter told the Federal Election Commission she raised $212,000 in April, May and June and had $612,000 in her bank account to spend. Among her Republican challengers, former UNH business school dean Dan Innis raised $134,000 in the same period, but $50,000 of that was a personal loan. Innis has $114,000 in cash on hand. Former U.S. Rep. Frank Guinta raised $132,000 from individuals and has $252,000 cash on hand. Interestingly, Guinta spent a whopping $100,000 during the same three months.

After the Republican primary on Sept. 9, national committees and SuperPACs are expected to get involved in this contest, deemed one of the nation's most competitive. Still, the money advantage Shea-Porter enjoys could be very key in defending herself in what could be a Republican year.